August 27: The Invasion of Time Parts Three & Four

So right after that great cliffhanger we finally get some clue as to what's actually going on, as the Doctor orders Borusa into the newly-redecorated Presidential office: redecorated with lots of gears everywhere -- and everything cast in lead.  The Doctor is finally isolated from the Vardans (the shimmering invaders), and thus can reveal his plan to Borusa.

So if the first two episodes spent all their time making us question the Doctor's motives, these two see him squarely back as the hero of the piece, as he plots against the Vardans, who he sees as a tremendous threat to Gallifrey (it seems to be the case that they've invaded the Matrix before all this "taking over Gallifrey" stuff, but this isn't as clear as it probably should be).  The only downside to this is that once we know the Doctor is indeed still a hero, Tom Baker never quite gives the same caliber of performance as he did in the first two episodes.  Which isn't to say he's bad; just that he's not as fascinating to watch here, once he's being conventionally "good".  Of course, a lot of the other characters don't know that, so Andred's trying to organize a revolution, while Castellan Kelner is being obsequious to his new masters.

I have to say, in their semi-materialized form, I don't really mind the Vardans.  They may be sheets of aluminum foil, but I still find them quite effective, and the idea that they travel along any wavelength is a neat one.  It's only when they're fully materialized that they become a disappointment.  And what a disappointment; is there a greater letdown in the whole show than the ultimate reveal of the Vardans?  Even the Doctor comments on it: "Disappointing, aren't they?"

The Doctor hushes everyone as K-9 tracks down the Vardan
homeworld. (The Invasion of Time Part Four) ©BBC

And yes, there's some stuff with Leela and her new friend Rodan out in the wilderness of Gallifrey, where they meet up with some drop-out Time Lords already living out there.  But other than to show that Rodan is spectacularly unsuited to roughing it, this feels more like simply getting Leela out of the way while the main plot happens elsewhere; she certainly doesn't seem to contribute much to the direct resolution of events.  No, our attention is on the Doctor, as he works out how to lull the Vardans into a false enough sense of security to be able to locate their homeworld.  He finally manages it by part four, even if he has to make a giant hole in the quantum forcefield that protects Gallifrey.  And then he wins; the Vardans are defeated and it seems like everything is wrapping up -- which leads to another great cliffhanger: as the Doctor gives a congratulatory speech, he realizes no one is listening, and turns around to see a squad of Sontarans behind him.  It seems the invasion isn't over yet...

Oh, and, happily, we get to hear the middle eight section of the theme tune in the end credits of both of these episodes; it's been a while.